Registering mechanism for golf driving machines



Nov. 26, 1929. T. H. DECKER 1,737,000

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR GOLF DRIVING MACHINES Original Filed March 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 M g?- /f Mr}? 2 1 M; M I

'LE-TITETR E AWM Nov. 26, 1929. v DECKER 1,737,000

REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR GOLF DRIVING MACHINES Original Filed March 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 26, 1929 @TATES IJSLQW arr eerie REGISTERING MECHANISM FOR GOLF DRIVING MACHINES Application filed March 14, 1927, Serial No. 175,343. Renewed May 10, 1928.

This invention relates to registering mechanism for use in connection with a golf driving machine and more particularly with a modified type of the machine disclosed in my copending application for golf driving recorder, filed November 29, 1926, Serial It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a registering mechanism for indicating in lineal terms the force of the impact of a golf ball against a flexible wall or other cushioning device against which a ball may be projected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a registering device for accurately indicating the force of a sudden impact transmitted thereto and to provide means for calibrating said device so that the distance of a golf drive may be accurately recorded.

Other and further objects of this invention will become more apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the principles of my invention, shown in connection with a golf driving machine.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line III III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line IVIV of Figure 1, with parts in elevation.

Figure 5' is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line V--V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line VIVI of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a golf driving machine, as a whole, similar in general operation to that described in my copending application above referred to. Said machine 1 comprises a rigid box-like frame portion 2, to the four sides of which is attached a flexible distensible wall 3. Said wall 3 is preferably formed of canvas, but may be of any flexible material substantially impermeable to the'passage of air. The vertical portion 3 of the wall 3 is spaced from the rigid frame and joined thereto by narrow strips 3 of similar material. The strips 3 are attached to the-frame 2 as at 40 and form with the vertical wall 3 air-tight seams 41.

The wall 3 is normally held in distended position by means of tensioning devices secured to said wall through the seams 41. The particular devices shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive comprise either weight or spring tensioning means positioned along each edge of the wall 3. To the upper seam 41 are secured at spaced intervals a plurality of flexible cords 42 which extend over a round bar, or roller 43 and carry at their free ends weights 44. A plurality of spaced spring clamps 4 secure the vertical side seams 41 to a rigid supporting frame 5 and spaced springs 45 anchor the lower seam 41 under slight tension to a base support 46. An inclined platform 47 also secured to the support 46 extends over the springs 45 to prevent a golf ball driven along the ground from hitting said springs and being deflected. Said inclined platform 47 also serves as an incline down which the ball may roll when it drops from the wall 3 after impact.

The purpose of so sustaining the wall 3 by light tensioning means equally spaced about all four edges is to make the effect produced by the impact of a golf ball hitting the wall 3 near its edges more nearly equal to the effect produced by an impact of similar force applied near the center of said wall 3. Where the edges of the wall 3 are joined rigidly to a frame such as 2, as in my former application, the force of a ball hitting near the edge of said wall would displace said wall to a much less extent and as will later apppear, would register much lower on the obviates much of the discrepancy due to the extension chamber 8.

particular spot on the wall 3 at which the golf ball strikes.

The wall 3 is maintained in its distended position also, in part, by means of air pressure within the enclosure formed by the box 2 and wall 3. Means for creating air pressure within said enclosure comprise a fan 6 connected to the rear of the box 2 and driven by a motor 7. The capacity of the fan 6 is such that it may be kept continually running while the apparatus is in use to maintain a slight air pressure within the enclosure to maintain the wall 3 in bulged or distended condition.

A chamber is secured to the rear side of the box-like frame 2 and communicates with the interior of the same. A movable cover 9 normally closed is applied over the box. A lever 10 pivoted at 11 to an arm which is secured to the rear side of the box structure 2 has one end attached to the cover 9 and its other end overlying one arm of a bell crank 41 which is pivotally arranged at one side of the box-like structure 2.

it will be understood that when a golf ball or other ball is driven'or projected against the flexible wall'3, the displacement caused in said wall results in a sudden increase in the air pressure within the box 2. Consequently the movable cover 9 is raised, carrying with it he end of the lever 10 to which it is attached. The other end of said lever 10 is associated with a registering deviceindicated as a whole by the numeral 12.

In order that the air pressure within the hollow box 2 may be maintained at a uniform normal pressure, a relief valve, designated as a whole by the numeral 13, is provided in the Said valve 13 coniprises a short pipe or nipple 1 1 (Figure 7) in which is pivotally mounted, as at 15, a pair of valves 16 and 1'7. The valve 16 is normally .raised from its valve port 18 and the valve 17 normally rests by gravity over its valve port 19. When the pressure built up by the fan 6 within the box 2 becomes suflicient to raise the valve 17, air is vented through the port 19. A sudden increase in the pressure resulting from the impact of a golf ball against the flexible wall 3, however, effects the closure of the valve port 18 by the valve 16, with the result that the cover 9 is raised as pointed out above.

The registering device comprises a pedestal portion 20 upon which is mounted a circular dial 21. A plurality of spaced pegs 22 in the form of a circle are secured in the face of said dial 21 so as to extend perpendicularly therefrom. A pointer 23 is centrally pivoted with respect to the circle of pegs 22 upon a pivot pin or shaft 2 1. Said pivot pin 24 exends through a hollow sleeve 25 provided with anti-friction bearings 26 suitably arranged therein, said sleeve 25 being secured to a transverse bar 260 extending between the legs of the pedestals 20. The pointer 23 is either made of flexible material or is provided with a flexible tip 27 of such material that it v is adapted to yield as it comes into contact with the pegs 22 during the rotation of said pointer. An adjustable counterweight 28 is slidably mounted upon the other end of said pointer 23 to enable the balance of said pointer to be varied as desired. On the other end of said pivot pin 24: there is secured a pulley 29 having a hub portion 30. A braking device, comprising a pivotally mounted spring arm 31 having a shoe 32 secured thereto and adapted to contact said hub 30 serves to dampen the spin of the pointer 23. The amount of braking action may be varied by means of "an adjustable device 33 adapted to bear against the brake arm 31.

Said device 33 comprises a curved bar 3 1 having slotted lugs 35 extending therefrom. Screws 35 pass through the slots in said lugs and serve to adjust the position of said device with respect to the brake arm 31. Normally the brake shoe 32 is held just out of contact with the hub 30 by means of a stop 37. Said hub 30 is, however, preferably formed with a i surface 38 in order that the braking 51118 may be varied during the spin of pointer This has been found advisable in order to obtain a spin of the pointer proportional to the force of the impact of the golf ball against the flexible wall 3 and consequently obtain an accurate reading on' the dial of the length of the drive.

Said pulley 29 is provided with a peripheral groove 39 for receiving a flexible cord 40. Said cord 40 is connected at one end in said groove 39 with several turns thereof about said pulley and at its other end to one arm of a bell crank lever 11. Said bell crank lever is pivoted, as at 12, to one end of the box 2 and in such position as to be actuated by the free end of the lever 10. Upon movement of said lever 10, effected as explained above by the impact of a golf ball against the flexible wall 3, the bell crank lever 41 is rocked upon its axis 42, thereby pulling the cord 1 and effecting a rotation of the pulley 29. The pointer 23 is thus rotated upon impact of the golf ball against the wall During its rotation, the tip 27 of said pointer 23 successively contacts the pegs 22 and yieldingly slides over the same until the pointer comes to rest. The tip 27 of said pointer is not sufliciently flexible to permit the pointer to dropback by its ownweight after coming to rest. The position at which the pointer comes to rest accordingly indicates on the scale 13 of the dial 21 the lineal distance which the golf ball would have gone if unobstructed.

Tt will be understood that the registering device must first be suitably adjusted and calibrated before accurate results can be obtained. This may be accomplished by suitably adjusting the resilient pressure of the brake shoe 32 against the hub during revolution of the latter by means of the device 33 and also by use of a suitably curved cam surface for the hub 80. Y

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a golf driving machine, registering mechanism comprising a dial, spaced pegs extending from the face of said dial, a pointer having a flexible tip rotatably mounted at the center of said dial, and means set in motion by the impact of a golf ball to rotate said pointer tip into successive contact with said 2. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, pegs extending from the face thereof and arranged in circular spaced relation,

\ pointer centrally pivoted with respect to said circle of pegs and, a flexible tip for said pointer for contacting said pegs on rotation of said pointer.

3. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, )egs extending from the face thereof and arranged in circular spaced relation, a pointer centrally pivoted with respect to said circle of pegs, a flexible tip for said pointer for contacting said pegs on rotation of said pointer, and a braking mechanism associated with said pointer.

t. In a golf driving machine, registering mechanism, comprising a dial, a pointer pivotally mounted thereon, means set in motion by the impact of a golf ball to spin said pointer, and raised indicating means on said dial for yieldingly obstructing the free rota tion of said pointer.

5. A registering device, comprising a dial, equally spaced pegs arranged in circular form on the face of said dial, a centrally pivotally mounted pointer thereon having a flexible tip for yieldingly contacting said pegs on rotation of said pointer, and means for imparting a sudden torque to said pointer.

6. In a golf driving machine, registering mechanism, comprising a dial having spaced markings thereon, a pointer rotatably mounted upon said dial, means set in motion by the impact of a golf ball to rotate said pointer, and means for applying a varying braking force to said pointer during its rotation.

T. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, a rotatable pointer shaft, a pointer mounted thereon, means for applying a sudden torque to said shaft, a cam disk rigidly mounted on said shaft, and a brake device resiliently held against said cam disk during;a partof its revolution to effect a varying braking'presure. i

8. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, a rotatable pointer shaft, a pointer mounted thereon, means forapplyi-ng a sudden torque to said shaft to rotate said pointer,

cam means associated with said shaft, and means for applying a varying braking force to said shaft through said cam means.

'9. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, a rotatable pointer shaft, a pointer mounted thereon, means for applying a sudden torque to said shaft to rotate said pointer, a cam disk rigidly mounted on said shaft, a brake shoe normally held out of contact with said cam disk, and means for effecting contact between said shoe and disk during rotation of the disk.

10. Registering mechanism, comprising a dial, a rotatable pointer shaft, a pointer mounted thereon, means for applying a sudden torque to said shaft to rotate said pointer, a cam disk rigidly mounted on said shaft, a brake shoe normally held out of contact with said cam disk, and adjustable resilient means for effecting contact between said shoe and disk during rotation of the disk.

11. A golf drive recording device, comprising a rigid box-like frame having one open side, a flex'ble wall spaced from said frame and joined thereto by flexible connecting means to form a substantially air-tight enclosure over said open side, and a registering mechanism actuated by displacement of said wall for recording in lineal terms the impacting force of a golf ball driven against said wall.

1 2. A golf drive recording device comprising a substantially air-tight hollow box-like member having one open side, a flexible resilient supported surface over said open side forming one wall of said member, and a registering mechanism associated with said memher and actuated by displacement of said wall as effected by the impact of a golf ball thereagainst.

13. In a golf drive recording device, a boxlike member having one flexible wall, yielding means supporting said wall along each of its edges, and means actuated by displacement,

of said wall for registering the force of an impact thereagainst.

14. In a golf drive recording device, a hollow cushioning member, means for supplying air to said member, means associated with said member actuated by suddenly increased air pressure within said member for recording the force of a golf ball projected against said cushioning member, and valve means for maintaining a uniform normal air pressure within said member.

15. A golf driving registering mechanism comprising in combination a box-like member having an open side, a flexible wall closing said open side, means for yieldingly supporting said Wall in substantially distended position air pressure means for further distending said Wall, registering mechanism comprising a dial and a pointer, and means set in motion by air pressure changes within said box caused by the impact of a golf ball against said flexible Wall to move said pointer over said dial.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

THEODORE H. DECKER. 

